Do Whole-House Water Filters Limit the Flow of Water?

Water filters restrict the flow of water to a certain extent. But how much the flow is reduced depends on many factors, which we will go over. However, before we do that, let’s clear up some jargon.

Knowing the Fundamentals of Flow Rates and Water Pressure

Water flow rate and water pressure are often used interchangeably. But they mean something a little different when looking at technical specifications.

The flow rate is how many gallons of water can flow through a water filter in a minute. The water pressure is how quickly and strongly the water flows. They are two of the most important factors determining how well a whole-house system works.

Factors Influencing Water Pressure and Flow

Before you buy a whole-house water filtration system, it’s essential to understand how it will affect your home’s water pressure. While some circumstances are beyond your control, others are.

Home Water Pressure

Water pressure affects the efficiency of filters in your home. The rate at which water flows into your home depends on climate conditions and how far the water has to travel from its source. The further away the water supply is from your house, the lower the pressure. If there is a drought, you might notice a pressure drop. If you get your water from a major river, lack of rain won’t make much of a noticeable difference in pressure, but you might see a more significant effect if you have a shallow well.

All water filters have an incoming pressure requirement; if yours doesn’t meet that requirement, it will impair system performance.

Water Demand

It takes up to 3 gallons of water per minute to flush a toilet and run a dishwasher. If you do all these things at once, your water filter will be overworked. The pressure at each faucet will drop if the filter’s maximum flow rate is exceeded. Get a water filter that can keep up with your consumption.

If you’re using city water, your water meter keeps track of how much you use in total. Your daily water consumption isn’t shown. Your family can use these averages to figure out exactly how much water they need at any particular time:

• Bathroom faucets: 1 gpm
• Kitchen taps: 1.5 gpm
• Shower heads: Up to 2.5 gpm
• Toilets: 2.5-4.0 gpm
• Washing machines: 25.0 gallons per load
• Dishwashers: 6.0 to 20.0 gallons per load

Water Quality

If you pour water through a coffee filter, the water will flow through quickly. But if you add mud, the water flow will slow down. This is because the harder a filter works, the more likely it is to reduce pressure.

Limescale

Limescale accumulation may be present in your plumbing when you have hard water and no water softener. This sticky residue made of calcium decreases the diameter of your pipes and restricts the flow of water.

Plumbing Size

3/4- to 1-inch-diameter pipes can be found in many residences. These are the most often used filter sizes. A filter made for 1-inch pipes can be adapted to fit 3/4-inch plumbing with an adapter, but it may not work correctly if the sizes don’t match exactly.

Home Height

If you live in a home with more than one story, the water pressure will be lower in the bathrooms on higher floors. This is because the water pressure decreases by a half-pound for each square inch of the pipe as it rises above your home’s water supply. Additionally, adding a whole-house water filter can further reduce the water pressure.

Filter Type

All filter media slow down the flow of water to some degree. The denser the filter media, the better it traps contaminants. However, some types are more restrictive than others.

Filter Flow Rates

Filter flow rates are reported as the maximum amount of water the filter can handle. Your filter system may not work well if the flow rate is more than 8-12 gallons per minute. However, choosing a whole-house system with a higher flow rate can improve water flow and pressure.

Types of Whole House Water Filters

Water pressure is also dependent on the type of whole-house water filter you use:

Sediment Filters

Sediment filters clean the water by removing big particles of debris, such as rust and silt. Most multi-stage whole-house filter systems contain them as a safeguard for the more fragile filters. If your water is highly contaminated, anticipate the pipes to clog soon. Maintaining them is a need if you want them to continue working correctly.

Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters use granular or solid bits of carbon to filter contaminants from the water. Block carbon filters are the most effective and efficient. However, they operate at a slower rate than other types of filtration.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)Filters

A reverse osmosis system removes more than 99% of the contaminants in your water. This process can take time, but it is worth it because you will have clean water. If your water has a lot of impurities, your water pressure may be drastically reduced.

Water Softeners

Salt-based softeners use a process to remove hard minerals from water. Salt-free softeners or water conditioners use technology to prevent limescale without removing minerals. Neither process affects water pressure significantly.

Using a Whole-House Water Filtration System? Here are Some Tips to Improve Your Water Pressure

Select the Proper Whole-House Water Filter System Type

Your water pressure can be made or broken by the filter you choose. Carbon filters remove most contaminants in water that make it taste bad, but they do not significantly affect the water pressure. Reverse osmosis is good at purifying water from a single tap, but it significantly affects the water pressure.

A whole-home water filter system is not common because it is expensive. Most RO filters are made to fit under kitchen sinks. This is a good place for them because they treat water specifically for drinking and cooking purposes. Some homeowners with very dirty water use a whole-house filter system to improve the overall quality of their water. Then they use an RO unit at the kitchen sink to remove contaminants from their drinking water.

Check Your Pressure Tank

If you have a well, the water is stored in a pressure tank until you’re ready to use it. If the pressure switch settings are wrong, the system might not work as well as it could.

Ensure that the shutoff valves controlling water flow into your home are fully open. No whole-house water filtration system will work well without enough incoming pressure.

Maintain Your Water Filter System

The average sediment cartridge only lasts for three to six months. Carbon filters usually last six to twelve months, depending on the size and type. A reverse osmosis membrane usually has clogged pores within three to ten years.

If a filter cartridge is not cleaned or replaced regularly, it can reduce water pressure. However, if a filter is maintained correctly, it should not have a large impact on water pressure.

Treat Limescale

A whole house water softener can help prevent clogged pipes if you have hard water. You can choose between a conventional softener or a salt-free water conditioner. They will both stop the buildup of limescale. As an added benefit, they will also extend the life of your water heater and other household appliances.

Check Your Faucets

Your water pressure may be low because of clogged faucet aerators. As the water passes through them, it deposits debris on the screens. Check the kitchen tap and other taps for buildup.

Change Your Use Patterns

You can change your water use habits if you want to reduce your peak water demand. This means staggering showers, only running the dishwasher and washing machine at night, and backwashing softeners overnight. You can also install an excellent whole-house water filter.

Final Thoughts

If you are concerned that installing a whole-house water filter would result in a drop in water pressure, think about the adverse effects of consuming unfiltered tap water on your health. Filtered water is healthier and tastes better.

Although a whole house water filter may reduce your pressure, the right choice of filter and proper maintenance can minimize this loss while improving your water quality. You should make this investment because it will benefit you and your family.

Read more: Your Home; Getting Pure Water At Home

Frequently Asked Questions About Does Whole House Water Filter Lower Pressure